Some important facts:
- Carlsen Cello Foundation may be the only organization dedicated solely to providing cellos to deserving students.
- The need for good cellos is never-ending, and requests arrive weekly.
- The replacement value for one of our cellos is $6,000-$25,000.
The Foundation maintains a stream-lined operation. Your donations go directly towards the acquisition and maintenance of cellos which we loan to as many deserving students as we can.
Please help us provide cellos to as many worthy students as possible. Your contribution can make a huge difference in the life of a hard-working young musician, and in the lives of everyone who benefits from hearing their music. Thank you for your support!
Ways to Contribute
- Direct contributions in any amount help the Foundation purchase and maintain quality cellos. To make a monetary donation, click here.
- Call the Foundation to discuss making your contribution on a monthly or quarterly basis.
- Do you have a cello that is not being played? Please consider donating it to the Foundation.
The Kathryn Cello Fund of Carlsen Cello Foundation,
This fund honors Kathryn Osborne, known to all as Kay. When her family donated Kay’s beautiful cello to CCF, we decided together to create The Kathryn Cello Fund of CCF, a resource which helps tremendously in maintaining and keeping beautiful cellos available to talented students through CCF.
Kay fell in love with playing the cello early in her life. Her cello studies began in the early 1940’s at Olympic View Elementary and continued over the next 4 decades. She shared her passion for the instrument and all music with many students over the years, as well as with all five of her own children. Kay bought the cello donated to the Foundation from David Saunders Violin Shop, now Rafael Carrabba Violins; Rafael just happens to be the luthier for the entire CCF cello collection, here in Seattle. As an adult, Kay participated actively as a cellist in community orchestras and chamber music workshops including the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Philharmonic, Bellevue Philharmonic, Highline Civic Orchestra and Symphony, Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, Rainier Symphony, Northwest Symphony, Federal Way Philharmonic, Northwest Mahler Festival, Midsummer Musical Retreat, Seattle Chamber Music Workshop, and many church and chamber music groups. She was also a member of the Seattle Violoncello Society.
CCF expresses heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Kay and to her family. Through The Kathryn Scholarship Fund, we are proud to be part of carrying on Kay Osborne’s legacy: loving the sound of the cello, joyful music making and giving back through music and performing.
Dana Hadfield Memorial Cello Fund
We are honored to accept donations to the Dana Hadfield Memorial Cello Fund. Please make a note of this when making your donation and we will acknowledge accordingly. Dana played the cello with great passion and joy. We feel privileged to play a role in remembering her and her love of music.
(From the Contributions form, click Donate Now under Custom Amount. On that page, you will see a place to enter Special Instructions to Seller. You may write any message here, or simply “In Memory Of Dana Hadfield”, “The Kathryn Cello Fund of CCF”.
Other opportunities include
- purchasing one of our instruments to be loaned in your name.
- sponsoring a student for a year or more.
Some of the ways your donations make a difference
- $25 one day of storing our beautiful cellos (or maintaining our storage location)
- $150 shipping a cello to a new recipient in the United States
- $250-$500 average cost for regular cello maintenance; each time a cello is returned, world-renowned luthier Rafael Carrabba takes care of minor repairs, both structural and cosmetic.
- $400 new set of strings; the Foundation equips each new cello loaned with a set of the highest quality strings
- $1,000 one year to sponsor a recipient
- $8-$10,000 average cost to restore a cello and get it ready to loan to new recipient. This initial investment prepares a cello for decades of use.
To make a monetary donation, click here, or send check by mail. For more information, to donate a cello, or to discuss naming a cello, sponsoring a student, or other donation possibilities, please contact Miriam Shames (206) 579-6233, mshames@carlsencellofoundation.org
The Carlsen Cello Foundation is a charitable, 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions and donations of instruments are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.